Neighbour keeps littering MY back Garden

marleyboy

I am at a loss what to do about my next door neighbour constantly throwing his cigarette butts into my garden, every day for the past 6 Months he constantly and deliberately throws them from out of his window directly into my garden, right in front of my back door.

He is aware of what he is doing but does not care one bit (he sees it as some joke), I have tried the polite bit to no avail, I am now at the point of throwing them back over to him, but still he proceeds to do it.

This is going on daily and constantly, I should not have to deal with his litter, all I want is for him to stop, I am sorely tempted to empty my bin over the wall into his garden, but that would only make me as bad as him.

Is their anyone I can complain to to stop this charade, its become way beyond a joke.

I live in a quiet and decent cul-de-sac, all privately owned houses, so it is not as if I can complain to the housing.

MUMMYTO2BOYS

I would throw them back, or as you say empty your bin into his garden.

Or if he's much bigger than you then it might be an idea just to put them in the bin.

Cookhamite

Tell him your children/cat/pet rat ate them and it's made them ill.

marleyboy

I'm not sure he would care if my child did eat them, however I am tempted to make him eat them

I gave up throwing them in my bin months ago, (I don't see why he cant do that himself), instead I have started throwing them back in his garden, but I cant see why he doesn't do that himself either.

Point being, I shouldn't have to deal with it at all, I dont see why I should be responsible for my neighbours rubbish. I dont want to have to keep tidying up my garden of other peoples rubbish, I don't go around throwing my litter in other peoples gardens, surely their is some legal way of getting my neighbour to cease such uncivil behaviour, rather than reducing myself to his level of obedience.

juliescot

Is it possible your local council has a policy on anti-social behaviour.

I know ours does and this sort of thing can be reported to them in the first instance.

marleyboy

Cheers juliescot, although I am not sure if throwing cigarette butts into another's back garden is classed as anti-social or not, although to me it certainly IS, as it is a persistent and deliberate act on his behalf.

This being a nice and friendly neighbourhood I don't know why he is doing it, as I am always friendly with all my neighbours and certainly don't want to turn this into some kind of battle. All I really want is for this behaviour to cease.

mrcol1000

Report him to the council. Its a criminal offence to litter which he is doing (unless he has your permission to place his rubbish on your property). They will send him a polite but strong letter. If it carries on then you could ask the council to issue a fixed penalty fine for littering if you witnessed it and are prepared to make a statement and appear at court if it got that far. It depends on the council how much pressure you would need to do that. Don't whatever you do throw the rubbish back on his property as if he reported it to the council they would have to take action on your littering regardless of where the rubbish is coming from. You could also see if the council has an anti-social behaviour unit as if they contuine to throw rubbish in your garden when you have asked them to stop it is anti-social behaviour. You would need to keep a diary of events. You could also see if there is a neighbour resolution service in the area. They can be independent to sort the problems out.
Really it depends on how far you want to take it. As soon as you start involving the council these things do tend to end in neighbours falling out but you shouldn't have to put up with this.
The only alternative if you don't want to involve anyone else is what I did for my neighbour who constantly threw cig ends into the shared private road outside our house. I collected them all up in a bag and then knocked on his door and said I had picked up all the cig ends he had littered and would he mind putting them in his bin as it made it look untidy. He now has an ashtray by his front door which he puts them in! It depends if you have the confidence to do this. My neighbour is alright but just doesn't realise how dirty it was what he was doing.

pinkshoes

Firstly I would report him for antisocial behaviour to the council.

In the mean time, get a big plant pot, and put all the cigarette butts that he throws over in the pot.

If the council play ball and are interested, you can show them the evidence. If the council can't be bothered, just wait until the plant pot is full them tip them ALL back over his fence.

worried_jim

pinkshoes wrote: »

Firstly I would report him for antisocial behaviour to the council.

In the mean time, get a big plant pot, and put all the cigarette butts that he throws over in the pot.

If the council play ball and are interested, you can show them the evidence. If the council can't be bothered, just wait until the plant pot is full them tip them ALL back over his fence.

I'd pour them thru his letterbox.

Dave101t

littering, emotional stress, intent to cause criminal damage (cigs can start a fire), keep a diary for 1 week, take photos if possible, the police will ask you to do this, then they can either have a word, or press charges.
every person has a right to reasonable peace and enjoyment of their property
you have put up with it for so long, give him everything you have got!

mrcol1000

Dave101t wrote: »

littering, emotional stress, intent to cause criminal damage (cigs can start a fire), keep a diary for 1 week, take photos if possible, the police will ask you to do this, then they can either have a word, or press charges.
every person has a right to reasonable peace and enjoyment of their property
you have put up with it for so long, give him everything you have got!

Your be very lucky if the police would take an interest. At best they will tell you to contact your local council.